I recently saw a quote by Marianne Williamson that said, God= Love. Will = Thought. Done =Materialize. "God's will be done" means "May love materialize." I started thinking about this. What does the Bible say about God's will? What does the Bible say "God's will be done" means? I found a lot of Bible references that talk about God's will.
I think first of all, in relation to Jesus, God's will was for Him to give His life a ransom for many to appease the wrath of God against our sin. This was part of God's decreed will. In Luke 22:42 we see Jesus praying before he was to die.
"Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done."
(NKJV)
In Galatians 1:3 we see that God's will was for Jesus to give Himself for our sins.
Galatians 1:3 Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ,
4 who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,
5 to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
The Lord's Prayer says, "Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven." (Mt 6:10)
God has decreed certain things to be done. None can change what He decrees. I believe the statement "Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven" refers to God's unchangeable decreed will. Ephesians 1:4 refers to something that God has decreed. "...He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world..." Another thing God has decreed is that those whom He has chosen will hear His voice. "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. (John 10:27) This is God's will and we should pray for God's will to be done.
Then there is God's prescriptive will. These are things that God commands us as followers of Jesus to do, but sometimes we are not so good at doing them.
Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Ephesians 6:5 Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters (employers) according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ;
6 not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,
7 with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men,
8 knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.
1Th 4:3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality;
1Th 5:18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1Pe 2:15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men--
1Pe 3:17 For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
1Peter 4:2...he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.
1Peter 4:19 Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.
These things above are what the Bible says is God's will. In light of this, what does the phrase "God's will be done" mean? It means a whole lot more than "May love materialize". This phrase by Marianne Williamson is so ambiguous, it can mean anything anyone wants to make it mean. It is a far cry from "God's will be done". God's will is specific. In fact, as you read the Bible, you will find far more than what I quoted above that God says we are to be doing and all of it is God's will for us.
I take issue with Marianne's statement because it effectively leaves God out of the equation. "God's will be done" needs no rewording. It is what it is, but "May love materialize" is a Godless expression that is found nowhere in the Bible. It is totally man-centered not God centered at all.
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